Clasp.



PATENTEDNOV. s, 1903.

G. M. HUBBARD.

CLASP.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2. 1903.

H0 MODEL.

in: noanim cm Prm'aum vusmctcm, m c.

UNITED STATES Patented November 3, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE M. HUBBARD, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR. TO THE W. & E. T. FITCH 00., OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION.

CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 743,286, dated. November 3, 1903.

Application filed June 2, 1903. Serial No. 159,784. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. HUBBARD, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Clasps, and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawin gs and theletters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, 1n-- Figure l, a front or plan view of a clasp constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a side view of the same, indicating the members separated by broken lines; Fig. 3, a front or plan View of the hook member detached Fig. 4, a reverse plan view of the same; Fig. 5, a plan view of a body, showing a hook member with a flanged plate; Fig. 6, a plan view of a body, showing the outer end of a loop and a bridge-connected by a bar;

loop member formed with outwardly-bowed" sides to interlock therewith.

This invention relates to an improvement in clasps and while adapted for belts for various purposes it is particularly designed as a clasp for horse-blanket straps.

In the usual construction of clasps it is nec essary to draw the ends of a strap together and beyond the position which they will assume when the members of the clasp are engaged.

The object of this invention is a simple construction which permits the ready engagement and disengagement of, the ends of the strap and allows the parts tobe united without straining the straps beyond the point where connection is to be made; and the invention consists in certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

3 In carrying out my invention the members may assume various forms, but preferably will comprise what I will call a hook or frame member A and eye member B. The hook member consists of aloop or eye 0, to which one end D of the strap is secured. The sides E E of the hook member are connected by a plate F near the upper end and by bridges G H, arranged in planes offset from the plane of theplate F. Between the bridges G H the inner edges of the book are set inward, forming lugs I, and preferably a post J projects outward from the plate F, and a stud K projects inward from the end bridge H. The eye member is formed from wire and comprises an eye for attachment thereto of one end of the strap M and a loop N. The sides of the loop are contracted near the eye. To connect the members, the loop is inserted between the central bridge G and the plate F and the end of the loop set over the post J. The members are then pressed together, so that the sides of the loop snap over the lugs I on the sides of the hook and then against the inner faces of the bridges G H. In this position they are held against contraction by the stud K.

,If desired, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the plate F may be recessed or formed with a flange O, which will assist in locating the outer end of the loop, and, if desired, the stud K may be extended, so as to connect with the bridge G, forming a bar K, as shown in Fig. 6, this bar serving to prevent the contraction of the sides of the loop and strength ens the hook member.

While the post J is desirable, as it indicates at once how the members are to be connected,

it is not essential, as the strain between the members is not borne by this post. Thus, as shown in Fig. 7, the postis omitted; but their separation of the members is prevented by the lugs I and stud K so bearing upon the sides of the loop that it cannot be withdrawn. If the post is retained, instead of making it round, as shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, it may be wedge-shaped, as shown in Fig. 8, J indicating such a post. With a wedge-shaped post the hook instead of being formed with the ends to meet in the eye, as shown in Fig. 1, may have its sides outwardly bowed to form the outer end of the loop, as shown in said Fig. 8, and with this wedge-shaped post the stud K may be omitted, as the contraction of the sides of the loop will then be prevented by the wedge J. While, as before stated, the post and stud are desirable for some purposes, neither of them are essential, as both may be omitted, as shown in Fig. 9. In this case the sides of the outer end of the loop will, be bowed, so as to bear upon the sides of the hook member between the plate F and the central bridge G and so that the members cannot be separated by a straight pull, but are interlocked with each other by the engagement of the lugs I with the sides of the loop;

Instead of forming the lugs upon the sides of the frame they may be omitted, as shown in Fig. 10, in which case the loop member will be formed with outwardly-bowed sides which will spring over the sides of the frame, and thus interlock'the loop and frame, yet permit them to be separated by bending the same way as the constructions before described.

In the several constructions shown the members are united in the same waythat is, the end of the loop is inserted between the central bridge G and the plate F and so that the end of the loop rests upon said plate. The members are then snapped together, so as to cause the loop to pass between the inwardlyprojecting lugs I, which hold the loop against the inner face of the bridges G H. The parts are thus securely held against separation by a straight pull, but may be readily disconnected by bending the members so as to throw the loop out of engagement with the lugs I.

In view of the several modifications suggested it will be understood that I do not wish to limit my invention to the exact construction shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such departures therefrom as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A clasp consisting of a hook member and an eye member, the sides of the frame of the said hook member connected by a plate and a bridge, the eye member including a loop adapted to bear upon the outer face of the plate and the inner face of the bridge, the sides of the loop interlocked with the sides of the frame, substantially as described.

2. A clasp consisting of a hook member and an eye member, the sides of the frame of the said hook member connected by a plate and a bridge, lugs formed on the sides of said frame beyond the said bridge, the eye member including a loop adapted to bear upon the outer face of the plate and the inner face of the bridge, the sides of the loop engaged by the lugs on the sides of the frame, substantially as described.

3. A clasp consisting ofa hook member and an eye member, the sides of the frame of the said hook member connected by a plate and two bridges, lugs formed on the sides of the frame between the two bridges, a stud projecting inward from the center of the lower bridge, the eye member including a loop adapted to bear upon the outer face of the plate and the inner faces of the bridges, the sides of the loop engaged by the lugs on the sides of the frame, substantially as described.

4. A clasp consisting of a hook member and an eye member, the sides of the frame of the said hook member connected by a plate and two bridges, lugs formed on the sides of the frame between the said bridges, a post projecting outward from said plate, the eye member comprising a loop adapted to set over said post, the side of the loop engaged by the lugs on the side of the frame, substantially as described. 5. A clasp consisting of a hook member and an eye member, the sides of the frame of the said hook member connected by a plate and two bridges, lugs formed on the sides of the frame between the said bridges, a wedgeshaped post projecting outward from said plate, the eye member comprising a loop adapted to set over said post, the side of the loop engaged by the lugs on the side of the frame, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE M. HUBBARD."

Witnesses:

H. A. ASHMAN, E. F. NETTLETON. 

